Week in Review

Week In Review, Dec. 15, 2017

Post Date:12/15/2017 5:00 PM

Dec. 15, 2017
Here is the latest edition of Week In Review - a series of weekly messages from the Mayor and City Council to help Richardson residents and businesses keep up to date on events at City Hall. If you would like to sign up to receive this in a weekly e-mail click here.

Richardson, Other Cities to Seek Plan for Future Collin County Public Transit
The City Council passed a resolution Monday to support the development and funding of a Collin County Public Transit Plan, which will address mobility issues affecting residents, employers and other stakeholders due to rapid population growth throughout North Texas and in particular, Collin County. Richardson will join other Collin County cities including Allen, Plano, McKinney, Frisco and Wylie in seeking regional, state and federal funding for the North Central Texas Council of Governments (NCTCOG) to develop the plan.

Though significant study on roadway infrastructure has already taken place, multi-jurisdictional planning has not occurred regarding the role of public transit in the future movement of people within the county and between the county and region. Concerns have been raised as to the current lack of adequate transit coverage in Collin County, including rail connectivity and paratransit service, particularly in rural areas. Rail stations are planned for McKinney, Allen and Frisco as part of NCTCOG’s Mobility 2040 Plan, but a comprehensive public transportation plan is vital to give clear direction for how those rail lines or additional bus service throughout the Collin County area can be implemented.

For more information, click here to view a presentation given at the Dec. 4 City Council work session.

2018 City Council Meeting Calendar ApprovedThe City Council approved its 2018 Meeting Calendar Monday. Each December, the Council is asked to consider and approve a meeting schedule for the upcoming year to help plan for important breaks, holidays, etc. while helping guarantee that attendance at meetings will be adequate to conduct official business and deliberations. City Council meetings are scheduled on Mondays, with work sessions at 6 p.m. and action meetings following at 7 p.m. typically on the second and fourth Mondays of each month.

Meetings are generally not held on:

the fifth Monday of a month

recognized City holidays

the Monday of Spring Break, Thanksgiving and Christmas week

the Monday prior/following the Fourth of July, Thanksgiving and Christmas

The 2018 Calendar features 38 meetings including the two-day Budget Workshop scheduled for July 16-17. To view the 2018 City Council Calendar, click here. Note: no City Council meetings are scheduled for the remainder of 2017 due to the Christmas holiday.

Santa’s Village Open Through Dec. 17; Online Photo Retrieval Still Available

There is still time to visit Santa and experience all the other activities at Santa’s Village—the Village will be operating tonight through Sunday from 6-9 p.m. Admission, adjacent parking and Santa photos are free, with additional charges for goodies at the Village’s Castle Café. Note that one family photo with Santa can be taken with your own camera if you do not wish to have a photo posted online.

If you’ve already had a photo taken with Santa’s camera, remember that they will be available online to view and download for 14 days after they are taken. Visit www.cor.net/santasvillage to retrieve photos using the password given during your visit. More information about Santa’s Village and a complete live performance schedule are also located at the Santa’s Village link.

Fire Department Recommends Daily Christmas Tree Watering
The Richardson Fire Department would like to remind the community that natural Christmas trees require daily watering. A dry tree can catch fire and burn faster than newspaper, engulfing a room in flames in less than 30 seconds.

According to the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service, the water level in the container holding the tree should never drop below the bottom of the trunk. Other tree safety tips include placing it in a cool location away from fireplaces and heater vents, and inspecting tree light strands for worn, exposed or frayed wires and broken or cracked bulbs, and replacing as necessary. Be sure to not overload extension cords and to check to see that smoke detectors are working properly.

The Richardson Fire Department delivered items from its annual Toy and Food Drive to Network of Community Ministries this week.

Items were donated by local businesses, civic organizations, residents and City staff and will be used by Network to help make the holiday season brighter for families in need.

Further donations can be made throughout the year to Network of Community Ministries at 741 S. Sherman St. in Richardson or online at www.thenetwork.org.

Cultural Arts Commission Receives Grace Note Award

Pictured from left: Orchestra president Betty Taylor Cox, Richardson Assistant City Manager Shanna Sims-Bradish and Music Director and Conductor for the New Philharmonic Orchestra of Irving Dr. Sergio Espinosa

The Richardson Cultural Arts Commission received a Grace Note Award Sunday from the New Philharmonic Orchestra of Irving (NPO), for the Commission’s efforts in supporting music performances. Each year since 2009, the NPO has recognized 4-5 groups that contribute something “extra” to the music scene in North Texas. This year, the group is honoring city arts agencies that provide major support for music performances through grants, rehearsal and performance venues and sponsoring musical events in their cities. City staff accepted the award during the Orchestra’s holiday concert at the Irving Arts Center.

The Cultural Arts Commission serves as an advisory board to the City Council on activities related to the arts, including making recommendations for use of City funds to sustain the arts in Richardson, and assisting in the promotion and selection of public art.

For more information about the Cultural Arts Commission, including a listing of grant-funded local arts organizations and the arts grant process, visit www.cor.net/arts.

Signs Installed to Discourage Feeding Waterfowl

City crews installed several signs near Richardson park lakes this week to encourage visitors not to feed ducks and other waterfowl. Though taking leftover bread to “feed the birds” is a fun tradition for many families, eating human food is not good for the birds, and the daily onslaught of “treats” from well-meaning visitors can cause the birds to stop seeking food elsewhere. Birding experts from the Texas Parks and Wildlife and the National Audubon Society, as well as City Parks and Recreation staff, say that when birds’ diets consist mainly of human foods such as bread, popcorn, french fries and chips, they become malnourished and don’t get vital nutrients, resulting in deformed wings, a decrease in reproductive rates, low energy, loss of flight ability and an increased susceptibility to predators. Left to fend for themselves, the birds will receive everything they need from nature to stay healthy—including earthworms, small fish and fish eggs, seeds, algae and aquatic plants, amphibians and insects.

In addition, a regular supply of human food attracts large numbers of birds to live in one small area, making it easier for the birds to catch diseases from each other. Having too many birds in one place is also not good for the environment, as they can become a nuisance by grazing on grass, and excess nutrients in ponds caused by bird droppings can result in water quality problems.

Park Water Fountains Off for Winter; Restrooms Still Open
From now until spring, drinking fountains in all Richardson parks (including the dog park) will remain turned off, as Richardson Parks and Recreation staff recently completed partial weatherization tasks, required to prevent pipes from freezing and bursting when temperatures drop below freezing. Park restrooms remain open due to warmer than usual weather and will close as the weather changes.

Holiday in the Park at Richardson Restaurant Park Dec. 16-17
The Richardson Restaurant Park, 744 S. Central Expwy., will host Holiday in the Park Saturday and Sunday. The event features a trackless train ride from noon-2 p.m. and Santa in the plaza from 2-4 p.m., joined by reindeer Dec. 17. In addition, movies will be shown in the plaza from 6-10 p.m.

The Spring Creek Model Railroad Club will show off its full-size layout of model trains on almost 300 feet of track tonight through Sunday in the Richardson Civic Center’s Richardson Room. The layout includes models from the 1880s to the present day—steam, diesel, freight and passenger cars with seven switching areas, an HOn3 narrow-gauge line in “mountainous territory” and a 30-foot main switching yard.

The display is open from 6-9 p.m. Friday, 1-8 p.m. Saturday and 1-5 p.m. Sunday. Admission is free and attendees are encouraged to take photographs and ask questions about the trains. For information, visit www.springcreekrailroad.com.

Epiphany DanceArts Dec. 16-17
7:30 p.m. in the Bank of America Theatre. Tickets are $17-$27.
The Dallas-based dance company devoted to modern dance and contemporary ballet fusion presents “Something Sacred.”

The Vocal Majority Dec. 21-24
8 p.m. Thursday-Saturday, with a 2 p.m. matinee Saturday and a noon performance Christmas Eve, in the Hill Performance Hall. Tickets are $16-$54.
The renowned Dallas-based men’s chorus presents “North Side Story” in Act 1, a hilarious, updated version of the Sharks vs. the Jets. As is the tradition for the Vocal Majority’s holiday show, Act 2 honors beloved and sacred Christmas songs.

Unless otherwise noted, tickets to Eisemann Center events are available at the Eisemann Center Ticket Office, 972-744-4650 and at www.eisemanncenter.com.

“Twas the Night Before Christmas” at Richardson Theatre Centre

“Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse?” Richardson Theatre Centre brings to life the wild adventures of “the mouse that stirred” along with an elf and a little girl who just won’t take no for an answer, in this joyful tribute to the holiday season.

Repertory Company Theatre, 770 N. Coit Rd., is presenting the musical, “Beauty and the Beast” through Dec. 17. The popular tale comes to life with music by Alan Menken, Howard Ashman and Tim Rice including “Be Our Guest,” “Gaston,” “Human Again,” and the Tony-winning title song, “Beauty and the Beast.”

Performances are Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. Tickets are $27 for adults and $17 for youth (18 and under). Visit www.rcttheatre.com to purchase tickets or call the box office at 972-690-5029.

Craftivity! Dec. 16

Enjoy crafts and board games at this come-and-go family fun event Saturday, Dec. 16 from 2-4 p.m. in the Basement Program Room. Admission is free and all ages are welcome.

For more information, call 972-744-4358.

Richardson Animal Shelter Pet of the Week
Meet Liddy! This sweet and calm girl came to the Shelter back in April. Her life was pretty tough early on. Liddy was caught in a trap, very emaciated, covered in scabs that looked like burns and pregnant! She was treated, given lots of love, gave birth to kittens in a safe environment and now all her babies have been adopted. She is doing very well, gained weight and her coat is looking beautiful. The only thing this sweetheart is missing is that loving fur-ever home for the holidays. Please help her holiday wish come true.

For information about other animals available for adoption, visit the Animal Shelter’s web page here.